Dehydroepiandrosterone
Understanding Dehydroepiandrosterone
What is Dehydroepiandrosterone?
Dehydroepiandrosterone test helps assess the proper functioning of the adrenal glands and helps determine the cause of masculine physical characteristics (virilization) such as excess facial or body hair (hirsutism), acne, deep voice, etc., in girls and women or early puberty in boys. This test also helps detect adrenal tumors or cancers. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a male sex hormone (androgen), produced by the adrenal glands, that plays a vital role in the development of sex hormones namely testosterone and estrogen. High levels may mean adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal gland tumor, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), or rarely an ovarian tumor. A low level of DHEA may be due to adrenal insufficiency, adrenal dysfunction, and hypopituitarism. However, further adjunct tests with other steroid hormones may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
What is Dehydroepiandrosterone used for?
- If a woman has signs or symptoms such as amenorrhea, infertility or those of virilization like deep voice, excess facial or body hair, acne, decreased breast size
- It may be ordered to evaluate the function of adrenal gland
Interpreting Dehydroepiandrosterone results
Interpretations
- Normal DHEA with normal androgen levels usually indicate that the adrenal gland is functioning normally
A high DHEA may indicate an adrenocortical tumor, Cushing's disease, adrenal cancer or adrenal hyperplasia. It is not diagnostic of a specific condition, further testing may then be required to confirm the diagnosis of the above mentioned conditions - DHEA may be elevated with polycystic ovarian syndrome
- A low level of DHEA may be due to adrenal insufficiency, Addison's disease, hypopituitarism
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